28 Dec 1839 – 12 Feb 1915
Son of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
PAUL CARDON
Pioneer and Patriarch
Buried Yesterday After
Impressive Services
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A Native of Italy. Was Father of Twenty Children, Fourteen of Whom Survive. Had Served in Both Civil and Ecclesiastical Capacities
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Paul Cardon, early pioneer of Utah and well known in this valley, died at his home in the Logan Seventh ward Friday evening about 8:30 o’clock. Funeral services were held in the Logan tabernacle yesterday at 1 p. m. with the following speakers:
Bishop B. M. Lewis, H. W. Ballard of Benson ward, N. W. Kimball, Bishop T. H. Merrill and President Alma Merrill of Richmond and Bishop H. E. Crockett of Logan.
The Seventh ward choir furnished appropriate music. Joseph M. Wilson sang, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.”
Paul Cardon, son of Philip Cardon and Marie Tourn was born December 28, 1839, at Parustin, Italy. The Cardons found a place of refuge in the Italian Alps during the awful days of persecution that cost the lives of tens of thousands of noble souls who maintained that every person had the right to worship God as he chose. Many of the Cardons were numbered among the martyrs. They were of the Waldenses, and the second family in Italy to accept the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, taught by the Latter-day Saints, under the direction of the late President Lorenzo Snow. This notable event in their lives took place in the year 1852. In February 1854, Philip Cardon with his family, consisting of four sons and two daughters, left their native land to cast their lives and fortunes with the despised Mormons. Having already endured persecutions for their belief, it was nothing new for them to share in the hardships and persecutions that followed the Saints after reaching the valleys of the mountains.
The Cardons arrived in Utah, October 29, 1854 with the Robert Campbell company settling in Weber county, where they remained until the move south which took place during the year 1858. Paul was stationed as a guard to set fire to the homes and grain if found necessary. He was also one of the guards in Echo canyon and endured the hardships of that event in the history of Utah.
The previous year Paul was married to Susannah Goudin, who corssed the plains with the Edmund Ellsworth hand cart company which arrived in Utah, September 26, 1856. From this union six sons and five daughters were born, tow sons and one daughter having died. In December, 1869, he was married to Magdalene Beus, who also came as a child with the Ellsworth hand cart company. From this union nine children were born, three of whom are dead.
After the return from the south the Cardon family settled at Marriott, Weber county. The following year, 1859, Paul Cardon with his father and brother Philip came to Logan, which then numbered but a few families. They entered at once upon the activities necessary to protect themselves against the then savage Indian and the building up of a new settlement. Paul assisted in erecting the first log house in Logan, which was located on the block west of the old Lincoln Hotel. He became actively engaged in defending the settlers against the many Indian raids that took place during the early settlement of Cache Valley, and risked his own life upon many occasions in defending others. He was almost constantly engaged in this work, neglecting his own personal affairs, and this admirable quality, characterized his entire life. He was prominently identified with the religious military, social and civil organizations of the early history of Logan City and Cache Valley. As a member of the church he placed himself and all that he possessed at its service, for it was because of his love for the work of God that prompted him and his father’s family to leave their native land, and be it said to the credit of all members, they died faithful and true to their conenants with God and all men.
In a military capacity Paul Cardon was the first lieutenant of cavalry, having received his commission from the president of the United States. As a local civil officer, he served as first treasurer of Logan City, and for many years as marshall. He had charge of the Temple Mill in Logan canyon which furnished the lumber for the Logan temple. He assisted in the surveying and building of the Logan canyon road. In all the affairs of the valley he was foremost among men.
A gentleman well known here, in a recent letter to Mr. Cardon said:
“It is impossible for the present generation to fully appreciate what you and your good wife have done for the development of Cache Valley.”
The family of Paul Cardon resided in Logan continuously up to the year 1892. During this year he, with a few members of his large family, desiring a retired life, moved to Benson ward, where he secured a large farm. Here he became one of the bishopric of said ward. He with his worthy and faithful companions are today loved and honored by the people of Benson ward and wherever they are known. This is the result of well spent and honorable lives–lives of sacrifice for others.
Desiring to spend the remaining years among their children, most of whom live in Logan, and alos to do work for the kindred dead, they returned during the year 1912 where theylocated in the Seventh ecclesiastical ward.
Paul Cardon is the father of twenty children, fourteen of whom survive him; grandfather of seventy-three; and the greatgrandfather of seventeen, a total of one hundred ten. His death was due to stomach trouble which afflicted him for several months previous to his passing away. All his children were at his bedside when death’s summons came. Joseph E. Cardon, editor of Liahona the Elders’ Journal, published at Independence, Missouri, having been sent for two weeks previous to his death, February 12, 1915.
In the passing of Paul Cardon, another of the old faithful pioneers, goes to his well earned rest and leaves in his large posterity and multitude of friends the richest legacy that can come to any mortal. He is the last member of the second generation of Cardons to pass to the great beyond. Of him it can be truthfully said: “He was one of God’s noblemen–an honest man–devoted to good works.”
The surviving children are: Mrs. Marriner W. Merrill, Jr., Richmond; Mrs. Joel Ricks, Logan; Mrs. Fred Turner, Logan; John P Cardon, Logan; Mrs. William Merrill, Richmond; Lous S. Cardon, Logan; Joseph E. Cardon, Logan, Hyrum M. Cardon, Logan; Moses G. Cardon, Logan; George D. Cardon, Logan; Mrs. Silas Ricks, Logan; Ernest W. Cardon, Vernon; Mrs. F. L. Walker, Rexburg, Idaho; Katie I. Cardon, Logan.
-Published in The Logan Republican, 16 Feb 1915, Tuesday, Pages 1 and 4.
